Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Uchucchacua Mine, Province of Oyon, Peru
SIZE : 5.7 x 3.5 cm

This specimen is a native silver showing wires associated to pink crystals of rhodochrosite. The wires are 3 cm high above the matrix. This sample mesures 5.7 x 3.5 cm.

This piece was discovered in Uchucchacua Peruvian mine. Native silver samples coming from this mine are spectacular.

It is currently exposed in the Room of the Treasure, within the Gallery of Mineralogy of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle

Photography : Louis-Dominique Bayle, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Native silver

HISTORY : Name inspired by the Greek word "αργυροσ" [arguros] that means bright. The chemical symbol Ag comes from the Latin "argentum". The English "silver" is from the old anglo-saxon "seolfor"

Species known since the Antiquity

Type-locality: undefined because species already known by the Ancients

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Ag
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Cubic
COLOR : Silvery white, dark gray to black
DIAPHANIETY : Opaque
LUSTER : Metallic
STREAK : White silvery
MORPHOLOGY : Cubic crystals, octahedra, as arborescent filaments
HARDNESS : 2,5-3,0
DENSITY : 10,497

CHEMICAL CLASS : I - Elements
GROUP : Cuivre
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 1/A.01-20
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 1.AA.05

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Native silver

Native silver

MNHN N°201.196

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